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J. H. RAND.

INDEX DEVICE,

APPLICATION FILED NOV. Ft, 1918.

1,317,6Q3. Patented Sept. 30,1919.

JAMES BRAND, OF NORTH TONAWANDA," NEW YORK.

INDEX DEVICE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES H. RAND, a citizen of the United States, and residentof North Tonawanda, in the county of Niagara and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Index Devices, I of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to card indexes and more particularly to card indexes of the overlapping card, visible index type, and consists in improvements hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims. v

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate the inventionfi Figure .1 is a front view of an index device containing' the invention;

Fig. 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section on line 33 of Fig. 1;.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view illustrating a modification; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail illustrating in edge view the preferred formshown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The invention is particularly intended for use in indexes having a series of cards or index elements mounted in an upright frame in overlapped spaced relation with their margins exposed to display indexing or. identifying inscriptions; and .is adapted either to indexes wherein the overlapped. spaced elements are holders for removable insert-cards on which the entries are made,

I or to indexes wherein the overlapped spaced elements themselves constitute the leaves on which the entries are made.

A represents a card or sheet preferabl made of paper or cardboard attached to a bar B in any usual or preferred way. The ends of the bar B which may be made of Bristol board or other suitable material project beyond the sides of the card A and engage the flanges at the sides of an index frame in the usualway. It will be under- .stood that a series of similar elements are mounted in the frame one above another in overlapped relation, and are held in spaced relation by the bars B, with their free margins exposed. It will also be understood that other means than the bar B may be used for supporting the cards in overlapped spaced relation.

At the lower edge of the card A is secured a sheath C, by cement or other suitable fastening means, forming with the card A a pocket to receive the insert-card-and signal Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 30, 1919.

Application filed November 11, 1918. Serial No. 262,074.

hereinafter described. The sheath C is preferably 'made of sheet celluloid, which is transparent and resilient, doubled or folded as shown, the rear foldor leaf being fastened to the back of the card A. If the card A is made of sheet celluloid instead of paper the sheath C'may be formed integrally wlth the card instead. of in a separate piece attached thereto.

D is an insert-card which is slipped into the pocket'formed by the sheath C and is removably held thereby, covering or overlying the card A which in this case serves as a holder-card, The entries are made on the insert-card D which may be removed'and replaced when it is used up; or the entries may be made directly on the card A, in which case the insert-card D need notbe used. I

The name, number or other identifying index inscription, or information to be displayed' on the exposed margin of the device, is placed on the margin of the insert-card D when used, or on the margin of the card A, when the insert-card is not used, and will be visible through the transparent sheath C.

In order that. particular cards may be conspicuously marked so that they may be quickl v, and easily referred to, or that attention m y be drawn to them, .I provide a removable and adjustable signal E, which is preferably made of resilient sheet material, such as sheet celluloid, and may be ofany desired color or other differentiating visual appearance, so as to be clearly distinguished from the background of the index itself, and from other signals, should different signals for different purposes be used in the. same index, The urposes and uses of the signals are of almost unlimited variety, depending upon the nature of the entries made in the index and the uses to which the index is put;

and the'information conveyed by the signals 7 may depend on their cOlOI, shape,position or other differentiating features. 1 For example, they may be'used according to some arbitrarily adopted systemsof color, position, shape or other differentiation, to indicate overdue o rbad accounts, dates on which some action is required in respect to the recorded subject-matter, different classes or sub-diment if they are to be relied upon to give the desired information. To this end I provide the signal E with a hook e at its end to engage the edge of the card which extends into the sheath. The hook e is preferably formed by bending up a narrow margin of the sheetcelluloid signal E, the angle of the bend being su-fiicient to hold the signal against accidentally dropping out, or being accidentally dislodged from the sheath when the index is being manipulated, but at the same time permitting the signal to be adjusted lengthwise of the sheath or "to be pulled out when desired, by a straight pull in a direction at right angles to the edge of the card.

In order to provide a smooth, slightly flaring entrance to the pocket formed by the sheath-C, to facilitate the insertion oft e insert-card and the hooked end of the signal, and also to avoid a rough edge and present.

a nice finish, I make the sheath with an.in-

wardly folded or rolled edge 0, which forms a smooth rounded bead. This is an advantage in inserting the insert-card itself, but is particularly important when the hooked end signal is used.

, The signal is slipped into the sheath between the face of the card and the sheath, and when the hook reaches the bottom of the vpocket it snaps under the edge of the card.

Its action is precisely similar whether the insert-card D is present or absent; in the latter case the hook engages the edge of the card A instead of the card D.

The inherent resiliency of the several v parts, namely, the signal, the sheath and the place,

card itself, yieldingly lock the hook e in but permit it to be easily inserted, or to be withdrawn by a pull on the signal as above described.

In the modification shown in Fig. 4 the bead c is. omitted from the sheath but the other features of the invention are retained.

The term card as used throughout the specification and claims denotes a sheet of any suitable material as well as ordinary cardboard or paper.

I claim:

1. An index device comprising a sheath, :1 card extending into the sheath, and a signal between the face of the card and the sheath having a hook engaging the edge of the card within the sheath.

2. An index device comprising a sheath, a card extending into the sheath, and a removable and adjustable signal between the face of the card and the sheath having a hook engaging the edge of the card within the sheath.

3. An index device comprising a sheath, a card extending into the sheath, and a signal of sheet material between the face of the card and the sheath having a hook en- 'gaging the edge of the card within the sheath.

sheath having a hook engaging the edge of 1 the card within the sheath, one of said elements being flexible and resilient whereby the hook will be yieldingly locked in position but may be disengaged from the edge of thecard by a straight pull of the signal in a dii'ection at right anglesto the edge of the car I 6. An index device comprising a holdercard, a sheath of transparent, resilient sheet material on the margin of the holder-card, an insert-card removably held in the sheath,

and a removable signal of resilent sheet material between the face of the insert-card and the sheath having a bent margin forming a hook engaging the edge of the insertcard within the sheath.

7. An index device comprising a sheath,

a card extending into the sheath, and a removable and adjustable signal extendin into the sheath between the face of the car and the sheath having a hook engaging the edge of the card within the sheath, said sheath having an inwardly folded edge forming a smooth flaring entrance to the pocket formed by the sheath adapted to facilitate the insertion of the hooked end of the signal. v '8. An index device comprising a holdercard, a sheath of transparent resilient sheet material on the margin of the holder-card, an insert-card removably held in the sheath, and a removable and adjustable signal of resilientsheet, material between the face of the insert-card and the sheath havin a bent mar 'n forming a hook engaging t e edge of t e insert-card within the sheath, said sheath having an inwardly folded edge forming a smooth flaring entrance to the pocket formed by the sheath adapted to facilitate the insertion of the insert-card and the hooked end of the signal.

Signed by me at North Tonawanda, N. Y., this 6th day of Nov., 1918.

JAMES H. RAND. 

